Save Yourself From Repair Bills With These Practical Tips On Furnace Maintenance

Your furnace is the primary source of heat in your home or office and you always want to make sure it’s working properly.

Nobody wants their furnace to conk out on them in midwinter. Furnaces can use oil, electricity or gas. But oil and electrical furnaces are slowly getting extinct since they’re not as economical as gas furnaces.

We wish they could, but furnaces don’t take care of themselves and a replacement or repair of a part can cost you a pretty penny.

You might be able to avoid that by following some tips to help keep your furnace running well. You should also be aware of some risks or hazards that can occur when prolonging maintenance, so take initiatives to avert these risks to keep yourself and your home safe.

But before you do anything, turn the furnace off. If from the start, you notice a gas leakage, don’t turn lights on or off and don’t try to handle it on your own, because a gas leakage can be fatal if you don’t know what you’re doing. Under those circumstances, contact the maintenance department of the manufacturers.

Change the filters

A common problem is air filters that have gotten dirty over time. When air filters are not replaced regularly, they cause the fan and motor to work harder and will block air flow. If you clean them regularly according to the usage of the furnace, you can stay some time without replacing the filters.

During a reputable furnace installation company will advise you on how often filters should be changed, and guide you on the overall care for your system. Furnace filters should be changed regularly, at least twice or three times each year.

Clean the vents

The furnace uses a ventilation system and vents can also get blocked from dust and debris. The biggest fear of clogged vents is fired if you haven’t cleaned the vents for a long time, make sure not to delay this task. You can use either a large brush sold in hardware stores or your vacuum cleaner.

Clean the blower

The blower motor is the component responsible for turning on the fan that circulates the warm air from your furnace into your room. If your house remains cool despite the furnace running and despite cleaning the blower, you may have an electrical problem with the blower that would need fixing or replacement.

Thermostat

Sometimes a thermostat that has been accidentally moved or not placed right can cause your furnace to not start. Make sure that it’s properly installed and secured.

Also, check for any corrosion or dust on it, and wipe that away with a soft cloth or cotton swab.

As you can see, your number one enemy is dust and debris.

Some things in your furnace need to be maintained more regularly than others, such as air filters.

Any trustworthy company will give you an optional maintenance plan if you want. It’s advisable to consider these plans to keep your furnace running optimally and avoid any risks. In the meantime, these tips can help to keep you safe and warm.